By HENRY EMPEÑO | August 2, 2025

IBA, Zambales — The combined effects of typhoons “Crising,” “Dante,” and “Emong,” as well as heavy rains from the southwest monsoon or “habagat” in late July left some P1.75-billion in total damages to agricultural crops, aquaculture, and infrastructure facilities in Zambales.

The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said in its July 30 report that based on assessments by the Office of Provincial Agriculture (OPA), damages to rice crops amounted to P40.78 million, with 3,999 farmers affected throughout the province.

The biggest damage was recorded in Candelaria with P11.77 million, followed by Sta. Cruz with P10.32 million, and Palauig with P7.51 million.

Damage to high value crops in the towns of Subic, San Marcelino, and San Felipe, meanwhile, reached P2.45 million, with 74 farmers and 7.56 hectares affected.

Livestock assessment by the OPA also placed total damages at P676,500, affecting 34 farmers in 22 barangays in Zambales.

In the towns of Subic, San Antonio, Cabangan, Palauig, and Masinloc, a total of P1.46 million was recorded in terms of fishing gears and boats destroyed during the typhoons.

Losses in aquaculture, on the other hand, totaled P14.36 million, with 47 operators and 123 hectares of aquafarms affected.

In terms of infrastructure damage, a report from the Department of Public Works and Highways put the record at a total of P1.69 billion. These consisted mostly of slope protection structures in San Antonio, Cabangan, Sta. Cruz, San Felipe, San Narciso, Candelaria, and Masinloc.

The PDRRMO also reported that a total of 18,158 individuals from 5,678 families were affected by the recent typhoons, while 400 houses were partially damaged and 23 were totally destroyed. 

COVER PHOTO: PDRRMO head Rolex Estella inspects a collapsed hanging bridge in Sta. Cruz